Rim-locking structure for metallic wheels



G. A. PEACOCK Filed May 24. 1927 Feb. 14, 1928.

RIM LOCKING STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC WHEELS Patented F eb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE A. rEAcocK, or SAN rnancrsco, cameroun-1A.

BIM-LOCKING STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC WHEELS.

Application led May 24, 1927. Serial No. 193,7?6.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels and more particularly to a cast metal wheel andthe means' for retaining and locking a rim on the periphery l thereof, the latter mounting the usual vehicle tire.

The invention has for its principal-`object-s to provide cam means on the ends of shafts radiating from the wheel hub to its periphery through its spokes, the cams engaging rim lugs for forcing the rim transversely of the wheel periphery and retaining and locking the saine thereon. Another object is in the provision of ,gear and pinion means for moving the cams into and from operating position. Another object is to provide a means for locking the gear means in its rotated position when the cams are in full engagement with the rim lugs.`

The invention in its present embodiment comprises a plurality of cams associated with the periphery of a cast metallic wheel and carried on the ends of axially rotatable shafts extending radially from the hub to its periphery and having associated with their inner ends means for nnparting axial rotation simultaneously to the shafts and for locking the shafts in their rotated position when in locking engagement with ,co-v operating rim lugs. y

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combinationof parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orV sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this speci-` Fig. l is a view in elevation, part-ly in section, `of a cast metallicA wheel disclosing the preferred embodiment of my invention associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is va longitudinal vertical sectional view on line Qf2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, illustrating one of the shaft retaining bushings.

Fig. 4 is a view in detail plan of one of the cams in released position and a rim lug cooperating therewith for sliding movement on or off of the rim.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the rim lug in position-over the rim and the cam rotated to locking position. l Fig.16 is a view,` in broken detail section of the hub cover locking means.

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the disclosure in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a viewin frontl elevation ofthe disclosure in Fig. 5. i

In the drawings, wherein like charactersr of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views-1 indicates a suitable cast metallic vehicle wheel having a i chamber portion 2 in its `center and a bevelled or Vtransversely inclinedv periphery 3.j The wheel at its center is provided witha transverse opening through which extends the cylindrical hub 4, thefitlange 5 of which lies adjacent the inner wall of the wheel and is bolted thereto as at 6. lil-otatable' on the hub4 is a sleeve` 7, the outer end of which is formed with recesses Sinto which extend interlocking projectionst) on the inner end of the secondary sleeve 10, which also rotates about the hub 4, theseoondary sleeve projects inwardlyfrom the inner face of a hub cap 1l, as in Fig. 2.

V The forward wall of the chamber 2 isopen at l2 `and the periphery of the opening is arcuately recessed at i3 providing spaced lugs 14 vwhich have interlockingengagement with the channels l5 in the edge of the flaring portion of the hub cap 11. `The lugs 14 and slots 'l5 are sospaced and of a length to admit of the removal ofthe hub vcap 11` from the wheel to admitaccess tothe chamber when the cap is rotated about the hub i to move said slots out of register lwith the ylugs. Certain of the spokes 16 of the wheel are provided with longitudinal bores i7 and insaid bores are mounted for axial rotation suitable shafts 18, shouldered at 19 The outer ends of shafts 18 extend through bush- 100 ings 20 affording guides and bearings therefor, and the inner ends ofthe bushings cooperating with shoulders 19 prevent outward movement of the shafts radially of the wheel.

'lhe bushings 20, one associated with the 105 head 22 of the bushing and rotatable from 110 an interlocked position approximately, at right angles to the Wheel peripheryI` illus-A trated in Fig. t, to a locking positionwith its axis substantially parallel with the Wheel periphery. The rim `for demountably se` curing on the Wheel periphery is not shown, the same, however, carries on its` inner face, the rim lugs 23 uni't'ormly s paced on its inner surface, one :tor cooperation with each cam 2l. Each rim lug Q3 is transversely channeled at 24.-, the inner end ot each channel correspondinef to the transversewidth oit a cam 2l, to admit ot the lugsliding thereover, Fig. Il, when the cam is in its unlocked position, transversely oi the rim periphery. One side Wall of each channel is shouldered as at 25 to aiiord an angular surtacetor engagement by its associated cani 21 when the latter is rotated from unlocked to loclted position, Figs. 5 and 8, with its axis disposed substantiallyparallel with the rim periphery.

The cams are simultaneously rotated to andffrom locked position by any suitable mechanism, that iorm illustrated and preferred, consistingrof a beveled gear 26 carried by the sleeve 7 Within the Wheel chamber portion 2. The rear 26 intermeshes with the beveled ng'ers 27 on the inner ends oit the shafts 18. as clearly illustrated in Fins, l and 2. The end surface ot the` hub cap 1l is of polygonal formation, as at 2S, tor

receiving a suitable Wrench, not shown, when it is desired to impart rotation to the sleeve 7 and gear 26 to axially rotate shafts 15S and simultaneously move the cams to and from locked position. The degree oi'` rotation of cams 21 trom unlocked to locked posit-ion controls the pressure exerted thereby on the shoulders 25 with the rim lues 23 and affords a means for compensatingr for Wear between the cam surfaces and shoulders 25 and between the inner edges of the rim lungs Q3 and the Wheel periphery, enabling' the rim to be tightly held onto the wheel peripher)T under all conditions.

Suitable locking1 means may be provided for holding' the cams 91 in locked position, the form illustrated also holding` the huh cap 11 in interlocked relation with the Wheel closing); the opening 12 therein. The preferred structure comprises a 4hq'iiide pin 25) reciprocatingr in an opening in the :iront Wall ot the Wheel adjacent the edge opening l2, Fig. 6, and the sameon its outer end mounts a peripherally toothed oval disk 30 receivable in an oval depression 3l formed in the wheel surface and intersecting the edile ot opening l2. For portion ot its circmnference, the edge ot hub cap ll is serrated at 32 to cooperate with the teeth ot the disk 30 when the same is received in the depression 3l, this engagement ot `the teeth oll the disk with the serrations 32 aiiording a means for locking the hub cap l1 in its desired adjusted position. To release the disk 3G, a screw on the member is inserted inw to the disk surface, and the disk is elevated against the tension of its seat springl Si, and is axially rotated with the pin QS), rcnuov` ing its periphery `irom contact with the pcriphery oi the hub cap ll enabling the same to he rotated causing,l a releasing or unlocking movement ot the cams ill. It will be. readily observed that the remo val ot the hub cap 1l 'trom the hub i enables access to be obtained to the interior oi' the chaniber il should repairs or adj ustmen ts oit" the interior mechanism become necessary.

l. ln combination with a wheel provided with a hub and a plurality ot rzulially disposed tubular bores each communieating a one end with the n'hecl periphery, a shalt axially rotatable in each bore and held therein from lineal movement, a cam on the end ot cach shatt and operating over the periphery ot the Wheel, means cooperatingl with the shafts t'or imparting sinmltaneous axial rotation thereto to position the camsl in locking position with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the Wheel periphery, and a plu ality olf Wheel rim lugs tor slidiinzir movement transversely ot' the wheel periphery and one overlying each cam, each lug being provided with a surface adapted tor engagement by its associated clim when the latter is in locked position to prevent the removal ot the lugs transversely in one direction from the Wheel periphery 2. In combination with a wheel provided with a hub and a plurality `ot radially disposed tubular bores, each coimnunicating at one end with the Wheel peripl1ery,`a shaft axially rotatable in each bore and held therein trom lineal movement, a camon theendlof each shaft and operating over the periphery of the Wheel, means cooperating with the shafts for imparting simultaneous axial rotation thereto to position the cams in locking position with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the Wheel periphery, a plurality of Wheel rim lugs for sliding movement transversely ot the wheel periphery and one overlying each cam, each iupr being provided with a surface adapted :tor engagement by its associated cam when the latter is in locked position to prevent the removal of the lugs transverselyT in one direction from the Wheel periphery, and a releasable lock vfor holding the cams in locking@r posit-ion. Y

3. In combination with a wheel provided with a hub and a chamber surrounding the same, said Wheel being turther provided with a plurality ot `tubular bores extending radially trom the chamber and each communieating at one end with the wheel periphery, a shaft axially rotatable in'each bore and held therein from lineal movement, a cam on the end of each shaft and operating over the periphery ot the Wheel, a member rotatable on the Wheel hub and operatively connected y with said shafts for impartingsimultaneous axial rotation thereto to more the 'ams into looking position With their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the Wheel periphery, and a` plurality et Wheel rim lugs for sliding moven'ient transversely ot tne wheel periphery and one overlying eaeh lng. each lng beingl provided With a snrt'aee adapted for engagementby its associated cani when the latter is in locked position to prevent the removal et the lugs tra* sversely in onedireetion lrom the Wheel. peripheryn Il. In Combination With a Wheel' provided with a hub and a Chamber Surrounding the same, said wheel beine; further provided with a plurality ot tubular bores extending radially from the ehamber and eaeh eeninnil nieat-ing at one end with the Wheel periphery, a shaft axially rotatable in each bore and held therein from lineal movement` a cam on the end of each shaft and operatingv over the peripheryvoif the Wheel, a member rotatable on the Wheel hub and operatively connected with said ehalts for imparting' sin'mltaneous axial rotation thereto to move the Canis into lookingl position with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the Wheel periph-y ery, and a plu ality oi Wheel rim lugs tor sliding movement transversely ot the Wheel' the Wheel, a sleeve rotatable on the hub and provided With a gear, a pinion on theinner end ot each shaft and intermeshing with 'said gear, a hub cap axially rotatable on the hub t'or closing said chamber, and provided with means tor engaging said sleeve7 the operation ot said hub causing said gear to impart si-\ innltaneons axial rotation to said shafts to position theeams in looking` relation with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the Wheel periphery7 a plurality of Wheel rim lugs for sliding movement transversely of the Wheel perpihery and one overlying each Cam, each lng provided With a :taee adapted for engagement by its cooperating cam when the latter is in locked position to prevent the removal of the lugs transversely in one direction from the Wheel periphery, means for detachably locking the hub cap to the Wheel body, and means for releasably looking the hub eap trom axial rotation on said hub.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.v

GEORGE A. PEACOCK. 

